Glenn Perryman began the first urban agriculture program in the heart of Winston-Salem , NC . Never before had anyone developed an agricultural education program in a major city in that state.

“It was my greatest challenge, and is my greatest accomplishment as a teacher,” Perryman said.

Perryman knew he wanted to be a teacher at a young age, but he thought history was his calling. After many conversations with his FFA advisor, Perryman realized he would probably be happier as a teacher with a program designed to motivate students “to learn by doing.”

“I still love history,” he said. “But nothing beats sharing my knowledge with students in the classroom.”

He has shared that knowledge through teaching many subjects including Agri-science applications, Horticulture, Natural Resources, Environmental Studies and Animal Science.

Perryman has also won numerous awards for his teaching. He has been awarded an Honorary American FFA Degree, Honorary State FFA Degree, Governor's Award for North Carolina Wildlife Federation State Safety Instructor of the Year and he was a two-time Teacher of the Year at R.J Reynolds High School , where he taught for 32 years.

“I enjoyed seeing students develop an identity with agricultural education and FFA,” Perryman said when talking about his favorite part of teaching. “It was like they found a home away from home. Their sense of purpose in agricultural education and FFA carried over into their performance in their academic courses.

Jay Terrell was a teacher at Southern Guilford High School in Greensboro , NC for 30 years. During those years he taught numerous subjects and was actively involved in the school's FFA program. Before that he taught for two years Dudley High School . With a combined tenure of 32 years as a teacher, Terrell says that in itself is one of his greatest accomplishments.

“My favorite aspect of teaching was being able to watch students grow with new skills and intellectual levels,” Terrell said.

His teaching has been recognized by many organizations. He was the North Carolina and National Agriscience Teacher of the Year in 1996, earned an Honorary State FFA Degree and an Honorary American Farmer Degree.